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Category: Politics
April 11, 2025
Lawfare
Politics

More Lawfare Firms Bend the Knee to Trump Admin.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced agreements with five major law firms to provide pro bono services worth hundreds of millions of dollars for causes supported by him and the firms. The law firms include Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump; the law firms Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP; and the EEOC.

📍 Where & When: Announced on Truth Social, the agreements were publicized on Friday, April 11.

💬 Key Quote: “The Law Firms affirm that they will not deny representation to clients, such as members of politically disenfranchised groups and Government Officials, employees, and advisors, who have not historically received Legal representation from major National Law Firms, including in pro bono matters, and in support of non-profits, because of the personal political views of individual lawyers,” Trump’s Truth Social post states.

⚠️ Impact: The pro bono pledges have exceeded $900 million, bringing to heel a number of major law firms that have sought to undermine the Trump agenda by assisting lawfare efforts in recent years.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has revealed commitments from five prominent law firms to deliver pro bono services totaling $600 million for various causes they mutually endorse. The firms joining this initiative include Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling US LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, with the latter contributing $100 million. Services pledged by these firms will span supporting veterans, military families, law enforcement, and first responders, as well as addressing fairness in the justice system and combating anti-Semitism, according to statements released by Trump.

Trump’s announcement, made on Truth Social, noted that these legal entities will not partake in “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities. The decision is also linked to the recent withdrawal of inquiries from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), with Trump referencing this move as part of an agreement.

“The Law Firms affirm their commitment to Merit-Based Hiring, Promotion, and Retention. Accordingly, the Law Firms will not engage in illegal DEI discrimination and preferences,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding: “The Law Firms affirm that they will not deny representation to clients, such as members of politically disenfranchised groups and Government Officials, employees, and advisors, who have not historically received Legal representation from major National Law Firms, including in pro bono matters, and in support of non-profits, because of the personal political views of individual lawyers.”

This development marks a significant expansion in the scale of legal services committed on a pro bono basis, notably for causes that are perceived to align closely with the Trump administration’s priorities. The total value of these pro bono pledges by law firms has now surpassed $900 million. Trump highlighted the bipartisan nature of the pro bono work to be undertaken, asserting that it will uphold a wide range of political perspectives, including conservative values.

These agreements come after Trump earlier enacted Executive Orders that penalized certain high-profile law firms. The law firms involved have previously been noted for engaging in lawfare efforts against Trump or employing individuals who have pursued dubious legal actions against him to hamper his 2024 presidential campaign and political agenda.

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April 10, 2025
Politics

Texas GOP Congressman Backs Paxton Over Cornyn in Senate Showdown.

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❓What Happened: Republican Rep. Lance Gooden endorsed Ken Paxton in the Texas GOP Senate primary against longtime Sen. John Cornyn.

👥 Who’s Involved: Rep. Lance Gooden, Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, President Donald Trump, Texas Rep. Troy Nehls, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Sen. Tim Scott.

📍 Where & When: The endorsement was made in Texas on Thursday.

💬 Key Quote: “Attorney General Paxton is the conservative champion we need in the U.S. Senate,” stated Rep. Lance Gooden.

⚠️ Impact: The endorsement increases pressure in a primary that could turn into a costly and contentious contest. The GOP primary winner will likely be favored in the general election.

IN FULL:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton‘s Republican primary bid against U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) is receiving some early support. Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX), who represents parts of Eastern Dallas and is known for his MAGA allegiance, announced he is endorsing Paxton for Senate—a sign that populist and Trump-backing Republicans in the state could soon follow suit. The Texas Republican primary for the U.S. Senate is anticipated to be particularly contentious and costly.

Paxton, who has served as Attorney General since 2014, announced his Senate run earlier this week. He cites a need for change and a stronger representation of conservative values. He argues for aligning more closely with President Donald J. Trump’s agenda. Paxton has accused Cornyn of failing to support conservative principles and questions his loyalty to Trump.

Cornyn, a member of the Senate since 2002, has backing from significant Republican figures, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRCC) also endorses Cornyn. However, while he claimd that his voting record shows steadfast support for Trump’s policies, he initially opposed his bid to reclaim the presidency in 2024, and argued congressional Republicans should not oppose the lawfare prosecutions of America First leader.

While Trump could weigh in on the race with an endorsement—likely all but deciding the primary’s winner—such an action appears unlikely at the moment. Paxton’s campaign is characterized by his stance as a staunch conservative and ally to Trump, and the Trump-style lawfare against him—including an attempted but failed impeachment pushed by establishment Republicans and Democrats in the Texas legislature.

Despite the attention currently on Paxton and Cornyn, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) could also enter the race.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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April 10, 2025
William Upton
Economy
Politics

BREAKING: House Passes Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful’ Budget and Tax Cut Bill.

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❓What Happened: The United States House of Representatives voted to concur with changes made by the Senate to a budget bill that will extend President Donald J. Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. This comes on the heels of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) releasing a report indicating that extending the Trump Tax Cuts could benefit Americans after prolonged economic difficulties.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump; Council of Economic Advisers; U.S. Congress.

📍 Where & When: United States; April 10.

💬 Key Quote: President Trump urges Congress to “pass the one, big, beautiful bill” to enact both an extension of the tax cuts and his budget priorities.

⚠️ Impact: Extending the tax cuts could raise real wages by up to $3,300 per year, increase take-home pay for median-income households by up to $5,000 annually, and spur GDP growth. Failure to extend could have resulted in the largest tax hike in U.S. history, potentially harming job numbers and investments in distressed areas.

IN FULL:

The House of Representatives has passed a revised budget framework—concurring with changes made by the Senate—that will extend tax cuts enacted by President Donald J. Trump in 2017, avoiding a massive tax increase on most Americans at the end of the year. With House members voting almost entirely along partisan lines—Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) was among just two Republican dissenters in the 216-214 vote—the budget framework was narrowly adopted. Democrats in the House, however, have said they will continue to oppose the budget measure, with Rep. Steve Horsford (D-NV) going so far as to claim extending the tax cuts will “screw America.”

“The Speaker is rushing to the floor to pass a budget reconciliation, to screw America by passing the biggest tax cut in history,” the Nevada Democrat shouted during a Congressional hearing with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday. He continued: “W.T.F! Who is in charge?!”

Despite the Democrats’ claims, most economic analyses show that extending the 2017 cuts would benefit the economy. Conversely, letting Trump’s tax cuts expire could have had severely negative implications for American workers and investors.

A new report from the White House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) breaks down the advantages of extending the 2017 tax cuts. Among the projections are significant increases in real wages by up to $3,300 annually and enhancements in take-home pay for median-income households, potentially rising by $5,000 each year.

The analysis further anticipates a short-term GDP boost between 3.3 percent and 3.8 percent, with long-term projections showing growth from 2.6 percent to 3.2 percent.

Notably, the CEA report suggested that unless the cuts were extended, the U.S. could lose 4.1 million jobs. Meanwhile, renewing the tax cut provisions could bring an estimated $100 billion in investment into American communities that have suffered economically.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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ken paxton acquitted
April 9, 2025
News
Politics

Trump Ally Ken Paxton Confirms Primary Challenge Against RINO Sen. John Cornyn.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a primary challenge against incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

👥 Who’s Involved: Ken Paxton, John Cornyn, Texas Republicans, and Donald J. Trump supporters.

📍 Where & When: Announcement made in Texas this week.

💬 Key Quote: Paxton declared, “It’s definitely time for a change in Texas,” in his announcement.

⚠️ Impact: The primary could strengthen the America First movement in the Senate, displacing the Bush-type Cornyn in favor of one of President Trump’s strongest supporters.

IN FULL:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has confirmed his intent to challenge U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in an upcoming Republican primary. The announcement signals a potentially contentious race for one of Texas’s Senate seats—which Cornyn has held since 2002.

Paxton, who has held his current office since 2015, argues that the state requires a change in leadership. “I’m announcing that I’m running for U.S. Senate against John Cornyn, who apparently is running again for his fifth term, which would put him there three decades. It’s definitely time for a change in Texas,” he told Laura Ingraham.

Cornyn’s team is attempting to portray him as an ally to President Donald J. Trump while personally attacking Paxton and branding him a “fraud.” However, Paxton’s record as a Trump supporter is solid, while Cornyn previously argued against the America First leader standing for reelection in 2024 and lobbied Congress not to oppose the lawfare campaign against him.

“John Cornyn condemned the House GOP for investigating Soros-backed DA Alvin Bragg’s political persecution of President Trump,” Paxton recalled in March, contending that the incumbent “was always desperate for the bogus witch hunt to succeed.”

An early poll conducted by Texas Public Opinion Research shows Paxton leading Cornyn by a ten-point margin. Another poll conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates found Paxton leading by an even larger margin of 53 to 28 percent, rising to 70 percent to just 14 percent on an “informed ballot.”

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April 8, 2025
William Upton
Economy
Politics

Trump Ends Biden-Era Anti-Coal Policies to Boost American Energy Production.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump signed four Executive Orders to revitalize the U.S. coal industry.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, relevant federal agencies, and the U.S. coal industry.

📍 Where & When: The announcement was made at the White House on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: President Trump stated, “Today, we’re taking historic action to help American workers, miners, families and consumers. We’re ending Joe Biden’s war on beautiful, clean coal once and for all. We’re going to put the miners back to work.”

⚠️ Impact: The order aims to increase energy production, support the economy, create jobs, and lower electricity costs.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump signed a series of Executive Orders on Tuesday to increase American energy production by ending almost all restrictive regulations on coal. According to the America First leader, the Executive Orders will end all discriminatory policies against the coal industry, end the federal land leasing moratorium enacted by former President Joe Biden, and accelerate permitting and new funding for coal projects. Additionally, Trump signed an order placing a moratorium on Biden’s coal plant regulations—which would have effectively ended their use in the United States—preventing the restrictions from taking effect.

Trump signed two additional orders. The first directs federal agencies to prioritize electrical grid security by focusing on policies that promote secure and effective energy production and ending policies rooted in the woke green agenda that discriminate against reliable energy sources such as coal. The President also enacted an Executive Order directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate state governments that enact discriminatory environmental policies targeting the coal industry. The White House contends that many of these policies are unconstitutional and represent state governments impeding upon federal regulatory authority.

“Today, we’re taking historic action to help American workers, miners, families and consumers. We’re ending Joe Biden’s war on beautiful, clean coal once and for all,” President Trump said before signing the four executive actions. He stressed that the coal plants closed under the former Biden government will be reopened as part of an across-the-board American energy plan. Trump added: “We’re going to put the miners back to work.”

Under Biden, the federal government enacted a bevy of new environmental regulations targeting the coal industry and emissions standards as part of its embrace of the far left’s green agenda. The Trump White House has prioritized reversing those extreme Democratic policies.

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April 7, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics
World

Globalist Canadian Prime Minister Backed by Chinese Communist Party Influence Campaign.

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❓What Happened: Canadian election officials uncovered a Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-linked social media campaign supporting globalist Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of the 2025 federal election.

👥 Who’s Involved: Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) task force, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the WeChat news account Youli-Youmian.

📍 Where & When: China, Canada, April 7.

💬 Key Quote:  “This information operation had contrasting positive and negative narratives, first amplifying Mr. Carney’s stance with the United States and then targeting his experience and credentials,” Laurie-Anne Kempton, assistant secretary to the Cabinet for communications at the Privy Council Office, said.

⚠️ Impact: The campaign highlights the ongoing problem of foreign influence in Canadian politics and elections.

IN FULL:

Canada’s globalist prime minister, Mark Carney, benefitted from a Chinese foreign influence campaign on the social media platform WeChat aimed at swaying support for him ahead of Canada’s national elections later this month. Canadian officials from the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) task force announced the operation’s discovery on April 7.

According to the officials, the most popular news account on WeChat, Youli-Youmian, spread articles meant to garner support for Carney and the Liberal Party. “This information operation had contrasting positive and negative narratives, first amplifying Mr. Carney’s stance with the United States and then targeting his experience and credentials,”  Laurie-Anne Kempton, assistant secretary to the Cabinet for communications at the Privy Council Office, said.

In recent weeks, Carney has become hypercritical of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, even suggesting that Canada could take over America’s global leadership role.

The WeChat articles received around one to three million views. The Youli-Youmian account has a history of interfering in Canadian politics and once targeted a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) who was critical of China.

While SITE has acknowledged the foreign election interference, it insists that Canadian voters are still free to choose their vote at the election on April 28. This contrasts starkly with developments in Romania, a NATO and European Union member, where the presidential election was annulled after claims that Russia used TikTok accounts to express support for populist candidate Calin Georgescu, who had won the election’s first round. Last month, Georgescu was banned from participating in the election re-run scheduled for May.

It is highly unlikely that globalist Mark Carney will face similar treatment in Canada.

Image by World Economic Forum / Sandra Blaser.

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April 4, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics

Trump Backs Rep. Luna Over Proxy Voting for New Mothers.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump has come out in support of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s proposal to allow new mothers in Congress to vote by proxy.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

📍 Where & When: United States Congress, Air Force One, April 3.

💬 Key Quote: “I’m going to let the Speaker make the decision, but I like the idea of being able to—if you’re having a baby, I think you should be able to call in and vote. I’m in favor of that.” — President Trump.

⚠️ Impact: The support from President Trump could lead to the proposal being supported in Congress, though he put the matter in the hands of Speaker Johnson, who is opposed to it.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has sided with Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) on a proposal the latter supports that would allow new mothers in Congress to vote by proxy rather than have to bring their babies to the legislature. “I don’t know why it’s controversial,” President Trump said while on Air Force One this week.

“I’m going to let the Speaker make the decision, but I like the idea of being able to—if you’re having a baby, I think you should be able to call in and vote. I’m in favor of that,” the America First leader added.

Luna, a mother herself, introduced the resolution allowing new mothers to vote by proxy. The debate over it has led to a delay in adopting the federal budget. Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the idea, claiming it was unconstitutional in a social media post—which he later deleted.

Johnson and Luna spoke this week about the proposal, and following President Trump’s remarks, Johnson seems to have somewhat softened his stance—but stated, “Democrats tried proxy voting before and it was terribly abused. We cannot open that Pandora’s box again.”

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was one of the most vocal opponents of Luna’s proposal, accusing her of doing the bidding of the Democrats. “Serving in Congress is a privilege, not a career choice,” said Greene, who divorced the father of her children in 2022. “If you need a job with better perks like maternity leave then step down and allow someone else to serve in your place,” she added.

The endorsement from President Trump is a win for Rep. Luna, who quit the Freedom Caucus this week over the proxy voting issue.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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April 4, 2025
Politics

REVEALED: Far-Left Democrat Jasmine Crockett Lied About Not Taking Corporate PAC Cash.

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❓What Happened: Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) reportedly accepted approximately $400,000 from Political Action Committees (PACs) despite previously claiming to have taken no money from such sources.

👥 Who’s Involved: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and various PAC donors, as well as telecom companies like AT&T and labor unions.

📍 Where & When: The financial disclosures relate to contributions between July 5 and December 31, 2020; Crockett ran for state representative and subsequently for Congress.

💬 Key Quote: Professor Matthew Foster remarked, “Democrats are more sensitive to this. They know people look at their contributions and use them against them.”

⚠️ Impact: The revelations raise questions about Crockett’s campaign financing claims.

IN FULL:

Far-left Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is being accused of having lied while serving in the Texas state legislature, publicly claiming in a 2020 post on Twitter (now known as X) that she does not accept campaign contributions from corporate Political Action Committees (PACs). However, the recent disclosure of campaign finance documents reveals Crockett has received nearly $400,000 in campaign contributions from PACs. Notably, in 2020, while Crockett publicly declared that she didn’t take corporate money, campaign filings show she received contributions from at least 22 entities described as PACs.

While serving in the Texas state legislature, Crockett received contributions from numerous corporate PACs, including telecom giant AT&T and a Wholesale Beer PAC. More recently, as a member of Congress, the Texas Democrat has more openly accepted corporate cash, with over $370,000 in federal PAC contributions since she was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. Among her corporate backers are major pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie and Gilead Sciences, powerful financial firms like BlackRock and Goldman Sachs, and even defense contractors like Lockheed Martin.

Even more concerning, Congresswoman Crockett has accepted numerous overseas junket trips financed by foreign governments and business consortiums. In February 2023, Crockett participated in a foreign junket to Doha, Qatar, costing around $17,500. The junket and expenses were covered by the U.S. Qatar Business Council, a Qatari entity that advocates for increased trade and investment between the United States and the Persian Gulf state, which is accused of being a major financier of Islamist terror groups, including Hamas. Similar trips, sponsored by Indian and Emirati authorities, were also noted in her financial disclosures for that year.

Crockett’s reversal on accepting corporate PAC contributions could become a political liability for the Congresswoman. In a recent media interview, American University professor Matthew Foster noted, “Democrats are more sensitive to this. They know people look at their contributions and use them against them.” He added: “Clearly [Crockett] thinks that issue is a big deal and a way to resonate with voters—so if what they put out there was false, it’s a great opportunity for the opposition to run on that.”

More recently, the Texas Congresswoman has faced significant criticism from both Republicans and Democrats after she made derogatory comments about Texas Governor Gregg Abbott (R). The National Pulse reported last week that Crockett, while speaking at a Human Rights Campaign event in Los Angeles, referred to the disabled and wheelchair-bound Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels.”

Subsequently, Crockett has dubiously claimed the derogatory nickname for Gov. Abbott was in reference to his use of buses to send illegal immigrants from Texas to Democrat-run cities like Chicago and New York. However, it is widely reported that the far-left Texas Democrat has referred to Abbott as “Governor Hot Wheels” for years and well before he began bussing illegal immigrants out of his state.

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April 4, 2025
Politics
The Resistance

Obama Calls on Americans to Sacrifice in Opposing Trump Policies.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Former President Barack Obama addressed the necessity of potential sacrifices to oppose the policies of President Donald J. Trump.

👥 Who’s Involved: Barack Obama and the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, on Thursday night.

💬 Key Quote: “You may actually have to do something and possibly sacrifice a little bit.” — Barack Obama.

⚠️ Impact: Obama criticized the Trump administration for challenging the post-World War II global order and urged active resistance against Trump’s policies, especially from law firms and universities.

IN FULL:

During a speech Thursday at Hamilton College, former President Barack Obama said it is no longer enough for those on the political left to call themselves progressives or say they are for social justice, emphasizing that action and sacrifices may be needed to resist the policies of President Donald J. Trump. Speaking to the college’s students, the Democrat former president also argued that universities and law firms must become more active in partisan political action against the Trump administration.

“It has been easy during most of our lifetimes to say you are a progressive, or say you are for social justice, or say you are for free speech, and not have to pay a price for it,” Obama said. “And now we’re in one of those moments when… it’s not enough just to say you’re for something. You may actually have to do something and possibly sacrifice a little bit.”

Demanding that universities, law firms, and other typically non-political organizations become more active in partisan resistance to Trump, former President Obama argued: “It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me or a whole bunch of my predecessors.”

The Democrat went on to defend the post-World War II global order, which has aligned itself against American interests in recent decades. “All of you have grown up in an international order that was created by America after World War II. … This is an important moment because, in the last two months, the U.S. government has been trying to destroy that order,” he said, repeating the Democrat trope that Trump is a threat to democracy: “Democracy is pretty recent in its vintage. An international order where you cooperate instead of fight is new. It’s fragile.”

Obama’s comments come in response to actions by President Trump to sanction law firms that have engaged in partisan lawfare action against conservative officials, candidates, and members of his administration—including himself.

Additionally, the Trump administration is moving to deport foreign nationals in the U.S. on student visas if they engage in pro-Hamas activities.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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April 3, 2025
William Upton
Economy
Politics
World

Mike Pence Hates Trump’s Tariffs. Which Means Trump Is Right.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is pushing the GOP to reembrace unpopular globalist economic policies, is criticizing President Donald J. Trump’s imposition of extensive global tariffs, claiming they represent the largest peacetime tax increase in U.S. history.

👥 Who’s Involved: Mike Pence, Donald Trump, and America First conservatives, including Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro.

📍 Where & When: Pence posted criticism to X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday evening following President Trump’s “Liberation Day” event.

💬 Key Quote: “The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history,” claims Pence.

⚠️ Impact: Critics like Pence claim the tariffs could cost American families over $3,500 per year, destroy jobs, and weaken conservative political standing. Additionally, the Pence-led Advancing American Freedom PAC contends the tariffs will counteract the benefits of previous tax cuts.

IN FULL:

Former Vice President Mike Pence publicly criticized President J. Donald Trump’s imposition of a 10 percent blanket global tariff and additional targeted tariffs in response to pre-existing foreign trade barriers, claiming the new import duties will result in significant economic burdens for American families. Additionally, in a Wednesday night post on X (formerly Twitter), Pence asserted the tariffs represent the most substantial peacetime tax increase in U.S. history.

“The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history,” Pence claimed, adding: “These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year.” Attached to Pence’s X post was a screenshot of anti-Trump tariff talking points pushed by his Advancing American Freedom PAC.

Advancing American Freedom PAC’s claim that the tariffs will cost American families over $3,500 per year is based on a Goldman Sachs estimate, which pegs the total tariff revenue at around $300 billion annually. However, Pence and his Advancing American Freedom PAC appear to assume that American families will bear the bulk of the tax burden imposed by the tariffs—a fairly unlikely scenario—and not foreign companies attempting to maintain their market share in the United States.

Meanwhile, Pence’s assertion that Trump’s tariffs are “the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history” is on equally shaky ground. While tariffs are technically taxes, they are not entirely borne by Americans, with at least part of the import duty paid by foreign companies. Additionally, Advancing American Freedom PAC states that Trump’s tariffs are the highest imposed since the 1800s, claiming the imposed rate is higher than the Smoot-Hawley tariffs from the Great Depression.

The first claim is dubious at best, though the assertion that the Trump tariff rate is higher than those imposed under Smoot-Hawley is patently false. Pence and Advancing American Freedom PAC are playing fast and loose with what they consider the average tariff rate to make the claim. The Smoot-Hawley tariffs imposed a 59.1 percent rate on dutiable goods, though around 63 percent of foreign imports were not considered dutiable under the law. This places the average tariff rate under Smoot-Hawley at just under 20 percent.

President Trump’s tariffs include a blanket 10 percent tariff on all imports with additional target tariffs on specific countries with pre-existing trade barriers against American exports. Estimates regarding the average rate range from around 15 percent to 20 percent, though the lower side of the range appears more likely.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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